Thailand Eyes 8 Million Chinese Tourists for 2024 with Fresh Strategies

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: workpointTODAY

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is ambitiously targeting 8 million Chinese tourists in 2024, diversifying its focus to appeal to niche markets such as young travellers, small business groups, and caravan tours.

 

Nonglux Yooyendee, director of TAT's Shanghai office, noted that current demand among Chinese is insufficient to encourage airlines to increase flights to Thailand.

 

Contributing factors include high unemployment rates and a downturn in China’s real estate market, significantly impacting the middle-class segment. This demographic, accounting for over a third of the population, is opting for closer destinations like Hong Kong and Macau, rather than international travel.

 

In 2022, 87 million Chinese travelled abroad, a sharp decline from 155 million in 2019, according to the China Tourism Academy. The figure is expected to rise to 130 million this year, still below pre-pandemic levels.

 

Post-pandemic trends reveal a shift towards independent travel among Chinese tourists, with young travellers showing a growing interest in overseas destinations. Social media data supports this trend, highlighting a decline in traditional tour groups in favour of tailor-made experiences.

 

Capitalising on this, TAT organised a June trip for Chinese travellers with pets, which was well-received, showcasing Thailand’s pet-friendly accommodations.

 

In 2019, over 4 million Chinese visitors arrived from Shanghai and nearby provinces. Currently, flight capacity has recovered to 80%, with 60,000 seats available weekly.

 

Boonrapee Damrongrat, director of TAT's Guangzhou office, reported high demand for business-related travel from the Southern provinces.

 

While corporate travel spending has become more cautious amid economic uncertainties, the demand for high-quality, tailor-made travel packages remains strong. Despite this demand, Boonrapee mentioned that Thai destination management companies are currently unable to offer sufficiently attractive packages.

 

Ruedee Cheawsamoot, director of TAT's Kunming office, sees potential for cross-border travel from Kunming through Laos.

 

With a mix of independent and group travellers, new direct trains between Bangkok and Vientiane could connect with the Laos-China railway, enticing Chinese visitors. Chinese travel agents are preparing packages exploiting Laos' visa-free policy for group travellers.

 

However, challenges remain. Despite visa-free travel schemes, Chinese tourists face cumbersome immigration procedures for foreign vehicles and complicated temporary driving licence applications in Thailand.

 

-- 2024-08-01

 

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[JoePai]

Oh dear, 8 million of the blighters  

[John Drake]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Chinese tourists face cumbersome immigration procedures for foreign vehicles and complicated temporary driving licence applications in Thailand.

 

So the goal is 8 million Chinese drivers on the roads.

[ozz1]

With the Chinese economy at the moment i can't see that happening but tat no's better

[2baht]

9 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

So the goal is 8 million Chinese drivers on the roads.

Now that IS a lot of horn blowers!

[daveAustin]

Stay home, Chinese people, it’s too expensive here. Much better to stay put. 😋

[nakhonandy]

Caravan tours, oh dear, more traffic chaos and accidents. 

[NoDisplayName]

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

 

So the goal is 8 million Chinese drivers on the roads.

 

Chinese drivers are bad, but not same-same bad.  More minor fender-benders, fewer high-speed collisions.

 

They generally drive very, very slowly, staring at a point a few meters directly in front, rarely using mirrors or looking to the sides.

 

Merging onto highways and changing lanes is accomplished by slowly merging into the desired lane while staring at the desired spot directly ahead, only pausing when oncoming traffic blows their horns.

 

Horns are constantly used on Chinese roads.  It's expected and doesn't lead to machete-wielding road rage attacks.

 

This will be........entertaining.

[ronster]

How many will be opening online gambling sites and phoney call centres  ? 🤔

[sammieuk1]

Wondering how many horizontal departures 8 million arrivals equates to said one overworked boat captain 🤔

[Burma Bill]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

(TAT) is ambitiously targeting 8 million Chinese tourists in 2024,

 

Yesterday's bus crash in Pattaya, carrying Chinese tourists, will not be re-assuring news back in China.

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, nakhonandy said:

Caravan tours, oh dear, more traffic chaos and accidents. 

Not only that, but these types of tours have been frowned upon in the past. The Chinese drive to Thailand and bring all of their own food and drink.

They only buy petrol here.

[JimHuaHin]

Just declare Thailand a Chinese colony, then the Chinese tourists may stay away.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is ambitiously targeting 8 million Chinese tourists in 2024, diversifying its focus to appeal to niche markets such as young travellers, small business groups, and caravan tours.

And scammers

[hotchilli]

4 minutes ago, JimHuaHin said:

Just declare Thailand a Chinese colony, then the Chinese tourists may stay away.

When Xi has full control of Thailand they will be looking to the west for sanctuary.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, John Drake said:

 

So the goal is 8 million Chinese drivers on the roads.

In 2024, next year will be double that.

[John Drake]

2 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Chinese drivers are bad, but not same-same bad.  More minor fender-benders, fewer high-speed collisions.

 

They generally drive very, very slowly, staring at a point a few meters directly in front, rarely using mirrors or looking to the sides.

 

Merging onto highways and changing lanes is accomplished by slowly merging into the desired lane while staring at the desired spot directly ahead, only pausing when oncoming traffic blows their horns.

 

Horns are constantly used on Chinese roads.  It's expected and doesn't lead to machete-wielding road rage attacks.

 

This will be........entertaining.

 

I don't know what their driving practices are like. So I assume there is truth in what you're saying. I'm just wondering what 8 million more drivers (for arguments sake) would do to crowding on the roads.

[KannikaP]

28 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Not only that, but these types of tours have been frowned upon in the past. The Chinese drive to Thailand and bring all of their own food and drink.

They only buy petrol here.

It's only 4088.93 km from Beijing to Bangkok! Estimated to take 48 hours 38 minutes.

[KannikaP]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is ambitiously targeting 8 million Chinese tourists in 2024

How many are we up to in the first 7 months. If on TATs target, there should have been 4,666,666 already.

[Brian Hull]

I live in Kampot Cambodia, which is a tourist town, and haven't see even one Chinese tourist all year. Why is this so?

[Luuk Chaai]

Thailand Eyes 8 Million Chinese Tourists for 2024 with Fresh Strategies

Tried and true method !

 

[Pouatchee]

On 8/1/2024 at 12:48 PM, ronster said:

How many will be opening online gambling sites and phoney call centres  ? 🤔

 

How does Big Joke translate into chinese?

[ronster]

22 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

 

How does Big Joke translate into chinese?

Ha Ha hee hee 😂 I think